Political news

• Damian Green: Kate Maltby says No 10 knew about inappropriate advance claims

  21-12-2017 23:44 via bbc.co.uk
  Kate Maltby exclusively tells the BBC she passed concerns about the Secretary of State on in 2016.
  
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• Theresa May describes sadness over sacking of close friend Damian Green

  21-12-2017 23:00 via theguardian.com
  Prime minister expresses her ‘deep regret’ but says she expects the highest standards from ministersTheresa May has spoken of her deep personal sadness at being forced to sack her close friend Damian Green, but emphasised she expected the highest standards of ministers and that victims of sexual harassment should be able to feel safe speaking out.A Cabinet Office investigation found Green had breached the ministerial code in his outright denials when a Sunday newspaper reported that
  
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• Steve Bell on Damian Green's resignation – cartoon

  21-12-2017 22:37 via theguardian.com
  Continue reading...
  
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• Aldi Skipton Stabbing Sees Police Launch Murder Probe After Woman Dies

  21-12-2017 22:34
  A woman has died after being stabbed in an Aldi supermarket in North Yorkshire on Thursday afternoon.Police have credited “brave members of staff and public” who detained the 30-year-old’s attacker before they arrived shortly before 3.30pm to the store on Keighley Road, Skipton.“It is believed the suspect was tackled by store staff and shoppers before officers arrested him,” North Yorkshire Police said in the statement.A 44-year-old man was initially arrested on sus
  
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• Tesco chief must explain silence over second 2 Sisters factory, says MP

  21-12-2017 20:32 via theguardian.com
  Issues found during inspection at Scotland site same day production was suspended at Midlands plant, it was revealed this weekDave Lewis, the chief executive of Tesco, has “some explaining to do” about why the company did not reveal its inspectors had unearthed “major” process issues at a second 2 Sisters Food Group factory, an influential MP has said.The supermarket chain conducted a series of emergency inspections of 2 Sisters poultry factories as a direct response to a
  
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• Sacking Green will boost May's popularity within party, Tories say

  21-12-2017 20:08 via theguardian.com
  Senior MPs believe prime minister has shown decisive leadership in forcing out her deputy over porn allegationsSacking Damian Green will have left Theresa May more isolated in cabinet but more popular with backbench MPs and members, senior party figures have said.As the prime minister weighs up an undoubted personal loss after forcing a close friend to resign over pornography claims, MPs said she should take comfort in winning over a section of her party who want to see decisive leadership. Cont
  
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• Cheered by news that the UK will lose Sway | Brief letters

  21-12-2017 19:57 via theguardian.com
  David Davis | Lists of ‘The hundred best’ | Liquid burials | Sway | Glasgow lyricI understood that David Davis would be resigning if Damian Green was sacked (Green sacked after admitting he lied over pornographic images, 21 December). Have I missed the announcement?
  Keith RichardsLondon• Come on, editor, where’s the list of “The hundred best food banks”?
  Peter Fellows
  Bradford Continue reading...
  
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• Bank of England, Treasury and FCA act in unison to charm EU banks

  21-12-2017 19:57 via ft.com
  Choreographed courting on City’s behalf is seen as ‘first positive move’ since Brexit
  
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• Rail Ticket Machines: 70% Do Not Produce Cheapest Fares

  21-12-2017 19:46
  More than two-thirds of ticket machines on Britain’s railways do not inform passengers how to get the cheapest fares, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.A joint action plan launched in December last year by the Government, rail industry and consumer groups pledged to ensure machines tell passengers if they could save money by waiting a few minutes to buy an off-peak ticket or going to a ticket office.But a DfT update a year later revealed just 30% of machines are compliant.The par
  
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• The Guardian view on Poland: Brexit will worsen the EU’s dilemmas | Editorial

  21-12-2017 19:41 via theguardian.com
  British scepticism has been an irritant to more integrationist tendencies, but also a healthy correctiveThere are no easy choices for European leaders in dismay at the Polish government’s turn away from liberal democracy. To ignore the ruling Law and Justice party’s incursions on judicial independence, signed into effect by President Andrzej Duda on Wednesday, would be to tolerate sabotage of fundamental treaty principles that member states signed up to when joining the bloc. But the
  
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• David Davis’s Secret Brexit Reports Ridiculed As ‘Wikipedia-Lite’

  21-12-2017 19:28
  David Davis’s Brexit impact reports have been ridiculed as “meaningless”, “shoddy” and “Wikipedia-lite” after Parliament finally published the secret documents.Edited versions of the long-awaited papers were released by the Commons Exiting The European Union Select Committee on Thursday - only to be greeted with a mixture of mockery and disdain for their lack of analysis.Critics dismissed the documents, with jibes claiming they were “as illuminatin
  
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• MP Mark Garnier cleared of breaking ministerial code

  21-12-2017 19:04 via bbc.co.uk
  Theresa May said "a line should be drawn under the issue" following a Cabinet Office investigation.
  
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• Trade minister to stay in post after sex claims reprieve

  21-12-2017 18:57 via ft.com
  Cabinet Office inquiry says Mark Garnier ‘did not break ministerial code’
  
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• No respite as Madame Brexit sidesteps Green questions in Warsaw | John Crace

  21-12-2017 18:57 via theguardian.com
  May did her best to appear gracious but it became clear the trip had been even more of a waste of time than she had fearedThis time last week, Theresa May would probably never have imagined her visit to Poland would attract so much interest. A couple of photo opportunities and a hasty press conference with the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, that no one bothered to broadcast and she would be out of there. One more job knocked off her to-do list before she could put her feet up for Chr
  
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• May’s Polish overtures strike a dissonant chord

  21-12-2017 18:57 via ft.com
  Brexit Britain must remain true to its liberal democratic traditions
  
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• Damian Green’s fall shows that politics needs cleaning up, but so does the web | Martin Kettle

  21-12-2017 18:51 via theguardian.com
  The disgraced politician was sacked for lying about porn on his computer. But we would all be better off without access to such demeaning materialTo lose one cabinet minister in two months may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two may look like carelessness. To lose three strongly suggests downright incompetence. Yet as Damian Green follows Michael Fallon (remember him?) and Priti Patel (and her?) out of the cabinet room door this week, Theresa May is still very much in charge. To say she has
  
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• Donald Trump's Jerusalem Decision Rejected By The UN

  21-12-2017 18:37
  More than 100 countries defied President Donald Trump on Thursday and voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to withdraw its decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that voted in favor.His warning did appear to have some impact with nine countries voting against the resolution and 35 abstaining, Reuters reported. A total of 128 countries voted for the resolution.The
  
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• No ordinary year

  21-12-2017 18:29 via bbc.co.uk
  It's been another year of extreme political news - with Parliament at the centre of many of the biggest stories.
  
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• Mikhail Fridman nears stake in North Sea gasfield

  21-12-2017 18:20 via ft.com
  Russian billionaire was told by the UK to sell North Sea assets two years ago
  
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• Barnsley and Doncaster vote for 'One Yorkshire' devolution deal

  21-12-2017 18:17 via theguardian.com
  South Yorkshire towns reject government-backed proposals for Sheffield city region in favour of deal that could lead to mayor for whole countyPeople in Barnsley and Doncaster have voted in favour of a proposed devolution deal that would elect a mayor for the whole county of Yorkshire.The results of what the two local authorities called “community polls” were announced on Thursday afternoon. Both south Yorkshire towns rejected a government-backed deal for the Sheffield city region in
  
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• Australia's Giant Tesla Battery Bails Out A Coal Power Plant After It Failed

  21-12-2017 18:05
  Mere months after opening and already it seems as though Tesla’s vast battery in Australia is already proving its worth.According to Renew Economy the 100MW facility had to bail out the Loy Yang A coal-fired power station after it tripped.While the Tesla battery isn’t strictly designed for tasks like these, it was a brief but important demonstration that revealed the incredible advantages that come from using battery storage.Unlike conventional redundancy systems that can take minute
  
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• May says she wants investigation into release of Damian Green information – as it happened

  21-12-2017 18:01 via theguardian.com
  The prime minister flew to Poland after a third cabinet departure in two months created a further headache for governmentFull report: Damian Green sacked as first secretary of stateTimeline: how a leak led to a downfallWho’s who in the Damian Green inquiry 5.01pm GMTHere’s a summary of today’s events. Thanks for all your comments and Happy Christmas from me as well as I’m off now until Boxing Day. 4.52pm GMTThe Cabinet Office has ruled that Mark Garnier, who admitted aski
  
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• 12 Politicians Whose Names Can Be Sung To Christmas Songs

  21-12-2017 18:00
  1 Liz Truss to Mistletoe And Wine'Liz Truss time/Mistletoe and wine'
  HT: Esther Webber @estwebber
  See also: 'So here it is, merry Liz Truss/Everybody's having fun' via David Whitley @mrdavidwhitley2 Amber Rudd to Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town'Amber Rudd is comin' to town' 
  HT: @PropertySpot3 Chris Grayling to Away In A Manger'Chris Grayling a manger/No crib for a bed'
  HT: Kate Forrester @kateforrester 
  See also: 'Away with Steve Baker/No crib for a bed' via Mar
  
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• Cabinet inquiry finds Mark Garnier did not breach ministerial code

  21-12-2017 17:56 via theguardian.com
  Theresa May believes ‘line should be drawn’ under incident where trade minister asked assistant to buy sex toys
  The junior trade minister Mark Garnier has been formally cleared of wrongdoing for asking his former assistant to buy a sex toy and calling her “sugar tits”, with no action being taken against him, Downing Street has said.Garnier did not deny the accusations about the events in 2010, made by his former assistant Caroline Edmondson, which prompted a one-month inv
  
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• Turning 40 With Secondary Breast Cancer

  21-12-2017 17:55
  What’s it like to turn 30? For me, it was about trying to put my primary breast cancer diagnosis behind me and live the life that was on pause during my treatment. Travel, work, marriage and kids; all wrapped up in a big bow of hope. A happy ever after.Ten years on, I’m about to turn 40.  Along with many other nearly-thirty year olds, I did go on to marry the love of my life, but some things on my list didn’t go as planned. My breast cancer metastasised to my liver and bon
  
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• Tory Minister Mark Garnier Cleared Of Breaching Ministerial Code After Asking Secretary To Buy Sex Toys

  21-12-2017 17:54
  Mark Garnier, the international trade minister, will be allowed to keep his job in government after being cleared of wrongdoing by a Cabinet Office investigation.The Tory MP for Wyre Forest called his ex-assistant “sugar tits” in front of others in a bar in 2010 and asked her to buy two sex toys from a Soho shop.Garnier, a married 53-year-old father-of-three, claimed he was friends with the woman and the incidents have been taken “outside the context”.Downing Street said
  
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• Why We Should All Care About LGBT-inclusive Relationships And Sex Education

  21-12-2017 17:47
  The Government has launched a new public consultation on what relationships and sex education should look like in England’s schools. While that might not be the first thing on your Christmas list, it’s been hanging around at the top of ours for a while, and is a vitally important step forward for all young people.So why is it something we should all care about? Earlier this year, the Government committed to making age-appropriate relationships and sex education compulsory in all of E
  
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• Poundland Divides Internet With NSFW Elf On The Shelf Advert Reenacting Sex Move

  21-12-2017 17:45
  Poundland has landed itself in hot water after sharing a string of adverts showing an Elf On The Shelf behaving badly.Its most recent advent, posted on 21 December, shows the elf hanging a teabag on Barbie’s face, a nod to the sexual act of ‘teabagging’. The caption reads: “How do you take your tea, one lump or two?”The crude ad has seriously hit a nerve with some members of the British public. Multiple Twitter users even asked if the brand’s account had
  
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• Party reputation must mean nothing as we root out sexual harassment in politics | Caroline Lucas

  21-12-2017 17:45 via theguardian.com
  For the women of Westminster to feel safe at work, a cultural shift must take place. That means no room for party politics• Caroline Lucas is on the working group on harassment in WestminsterAs parliament started to wind down today ahead of the Christmas break, MPs gathered for a progress report from the working group on bullying and harassment. It was set up in the wake of reports that underscored what many of us have been shouting about for a long time: serious sexual harassment and bully
  
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• It Shouldn't Be 'Wrong' To Celebrate Christmas As A Muslim

  21-12-2017 17:44
  Far too many times, enjoying Christmas as a Muslim is looked down upon. “But we don’t celebrate Christmas. It’s haram”, I often get told when I say to those around me that I absolutely love Christmas time.Yes, Muslims don’t celebrate Christmas but what is wrong with enjoying it and taking part in all the fun surrounding it? In Islam, Jesus is also one of our prophets. We’ve become a society where it’s so offensive to take part in other cultures, religion
  
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• For The 128,000 Children In Temporary Accommodation, Christmas Will Be Far From Magical

  21-12-2017 17:41
  The run-up to Christmas is an exciting time for school children. But for Britain’s 128,000 children who are currently homeless, spending the holidays in temporary accommodation will be far from magical.This year we have seen the highest numbers of homeless children in a decade. One in every 111 children in Britain is homeless, and in the worst affected areas there are more than 20 homeless children per school.At Shelter, we know all too well the wide-ranging struggles children experience w
  
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• Civil service reports on Brexit are criticised for padding and plagiarism

  21-12-2017 17:30 via theguardian.com
  Documents on effects of leaving EU, once claimed to provide ‘excruciating detail’, expose threadbare state of preparationsThe threadbare state of government preparations for Brexit was exposed on Thursday as civil service reports once heralded for providing “excruciating detail” on the impact of leaving the EU were criticised for containing little more than padding, repetition and plagiarism.
  Months of pressure for disclosure of the economic analysis culminated, several h
  
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• UK’s sector-by-sector Brexit assessments released

  21-12-2017 17:28 via ft.com
  Documents take pessimistic view of banks’ ability to brass plate operations in EU
  
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• Theresa May to reshuffle cabinet in wake of Damian Green’s exit

  21-12-2017 17:26 via ft.com
  PM will use Christmas break to plot shake-up, with Jeremy Hunt tipped for promotion
  
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• Eating Disorders At Christmas: The Bully Inside Me

  21-12-2017 17:26
  Trigger warning: this blog includes descriptions of eating disorders that some readers might find distressing.I’d allowed myself some of my “no foods”, it was Christmas Day after all. But my eating disorder wasn’t having it.The urge to purge grew stronger and stronger. I was trying to enjoy family time but I knew that with every mouthful, I was closer to making myself sick.I felt the rush of a binge coming on. So I made my excuses and went up to my bedroom for a “na
  
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• How a decade-old row over a police raid led to Damian Green's fall

  21-12-2017 17:01 via theguardian.com
  Retired police officer Bob Quick seems to have seen controversial 2008 investigation into leaks as unfinished businessThe lie that brought down Damian Green was his claim late on a Saturday night that “the police have never suggested to me that improper material was found on my parliamentary computer”.
  In his resignation letter the deputy prime minister and Theresa May’s closest ally was forced to admit that denial was “misleading” and the police had told him and hi
  
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• This Christmas Jumper Has A 30-Year Guarantee In The Name Of Sustainability

  21-12-2017 16:53
  Christmas jumpers have earned a bad rep as a symbol of throw away fashion - with one in three people under 35 purchasing a new one every year - but it doesn’t have to be this way.Tom Cridland, a designer who set up a sustainable business straight out of University, has created a durable festive staple, designed to stand the test of time.Cridland’s Christmas jumper comes with a 30-year guarantee, so you can give a truly valuable gift to a loved one,
  
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• Twitter Urged To Ban Katie Hopkins In Wake Of Melbourne Crash Tweets

  21-12-2017 16:48
  There are growing calls for Twitter to suspend Katie Hopkins’ account following her comments about the Melbourne crash which saw a car plough into pedestrians in the Australian city.Though Melbourne Police say the incident was a “deliberate act”, they have stated there is no evidence to suggest a link with terrorism at this stage.The driver was a 32-year-old Australian citizen of Afghan descent with a history of drug use and mental health problems and a second man, aged 24, who
  
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• Ralph & Russo: Gorgeous Wedding Dresses By The British Brand Behind Meghan Markle's Engagement Photo Dress

  21-12-2017 16:38
  Ralph and Russo, the designers behind the dress Meghan Markle wore in her official engagement photo dress are known for creating stunning bridal gowns.Creating just one gown for their SS16 couture show reportedly took 50 couturiers and over 6,000 combined hours to make.A couture bridal dress can take months to pull together, so timing is everything.“We encourage clients to get in touch as soon as possible with bridal requests,” says Michael Russo, co-founder of the fashion giant
  
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• UK couples offered counselling to cut benefits bill

  21-12-2017 16:18 via ft.com
  Conservative drive to temper parental conflict achieves ‘relatively small’ gains
  
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• Baby, It's Cold Outside

  21-12-2017 16:14
  In the winter months when the temperature drops your baby needs to be kept warm, especially when outdoors. Here are ten top tips from NCT for keeping babies and toddlers warm in the cold weather.Layer up. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby with one layer of clothing more than you’re wearing. For example, if you’re in a shirt, sweater and coat, give your baby a vest, sleepsuit, cardigan and coat.Be prepared. In winter it’s best to err on the side of caution so, as well a
  
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• Prince Harry And Meghan's Pre-marriage Counselling Is A Welcome Step

  21-12-2017 16:09
  I was glad to hear that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has apparently agreed to marry Prince Harry and his bride to be Meghan Markle in May.The couple have chosen to get married in St George’s Chapel at Windsor.Although nothing has been made public yet, sources say that the Archbishop has met the happy couple already and found them to be “delightful” and “totally committed” to each other.I firmly believe that more couples should go for pre-marriage couns
  
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• Four Of The Most Unique Hotels In New York City

  21-12-2017 16:09
  If you’re visiting New York City, deciding where to stay can be overwhelming. From five-star opulence to humble hostels, NYC has accommodation for every taste and budget. But if you’re looking for something different – something with its own unique style – look no further. Here are four of NYC’s coolest hotels.YOTEL New YorkThe brainchild of Yo! Sushi boss Simon Woodroffe, YOTEL New York has made a name for itself for providing unbeatable luxury in the heart of NYC.
  
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• Morrisons, Aldi And Co-op Recall Chicken And Bacon Caesar Wraps Over Fears They Could Contain Metal

  21-12-2017 16:08
  Chicken wraps sold at Morrisons, Aldi and the Co-op have been urgently recalled over fears they could contain pieces of metal. Food production giant Greencore - which supplies the supermarket chains with the lunchtime snack - warned customers not to eat its Chicken and Bacon Caesar Wraps following a “contamination issue”. Instead, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said affected products should be returned to stores. “Greencore, as a precautionary measure, is recall
  
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• Theresa May Demands 'Proper Investigation' Into Police Over Damian Green Leaks

  21-12-2017 16:04
  Theresa May has demanded that former police officers who leaked the Damian Green pornography accusations be “properly investigated”.The prime minister fired her close ally and first secretary of state on Wednesday evening after he was found to have lied when he said he did not know police had found porn on his office computer during a raid in 2008.Two former police officers, ex-Met assistant commissioner Bob Quick and former detective constable Neil Lewis, who leaked details of the d
  
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• Early Pregnancy Is Putting An End To Girls’ Ambitions Of Education

  21-12-2017 15:58
  “When I first discovered I was pregnant, I did not know what to do. I was naive. I was still in school. Eventually, I had no choice. I dropped out of school.”I remember a young mother telling me those words. I wished her story was rare. But it is not.My names is Betty. I work for the charity Build Africa in western Uganda. And I can tell you that this is the nightmare many girls here go through.Faced at a young age with such an adult situation, they will struggle to accept it. They c
  
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• Finsbury Park Mosque Attack Suspect Darren Osborne Pleads Not Guilty

  21-12-2017 15:57
  The man charged with allegedly driving into worshippers near the Finsbury Park mosque has pleaded not guilty. Darren Osborne on Thursday denied charges of terrorism-related murder and attempted murder at the Old Bailey over the incident in north London which left one worshipper dead and 11 injured. The father-of-four appeared at the Old Bailey before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb via videolink from Belmarsh prison and was further remanded in custody. The 48-year-old from Cardiff, will
  
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• What All Parents Need To Know When Shopping This Christmas - Proxy Alcohol Sales

  21-12-2017 15:54
  Ever heard of proxy alcohol sales? Neither had I until I wasn’t allowed to buy beer when accompanied by my 21 year old son who didn’t have his ID on him. Needless to say I was indignant and my dander was well and truly up. It was the first time I broadcast my own age (51) so loudly and proudly in a public place - a supermarket chain. I thought it ridiculous, I was incredulous. They would not let me buy alcohol because he might drink some of it. They clearly did not know my inability
  
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• Samuel Armstrong, Chief Of Staff Of Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, Cleared Of Raping Woman In Boss's Westminster Office

  21-12-2017 15:53
  A Conservative MP’s chief of staff wiped tears from his eyes as he was acquitted of raping a young parliamentary worker in his boss’s Westminster office.Samuel Armstrong, 24, was accused of attacking the woman when she fell asleep after a night drinking in the Houses of Parliament.The victim, who is in her 20s, said she “felt like a hostage” when she was raped twice by South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay’s senior aide.But Armstrong, who was arrested after the woman was
  
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• Winter Hair Styling For Men

  21-12-2017 15:47
   Winter can raise all kinds of challenges for the well-groomed man and his freshly acquired hairstyle. Your style has to be durable to get through the days of wind and rain.Keep it LongAs stylists we’re often asked by the client, “what is the best hairstyle for the winter months?” The obvious answer to this is long and thick. If it only it were that simple!During the winter we tend to see a shift to longer hair around the sides and back, this is great news for both the sty
  
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